Navy Commissions USS America During Fleet Week

The Navy commissioned its newest amphibious assault ship, USS America, in an official ceremony in San Francisco Saturday.

Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, delivered the commission ceremony’s principal address. while Lynne Pace, wife of former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Peter Pace, served as the ship’s sponsor. Pace gave the traditional order to “man our ship and bring her to life.”

USS America is the first ship of its class, replacing the Tarawa class of amphibious assault ships. The new class will be capable of supporting current and future aircraft such as the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey and F-35B Lightning II. This class of ships, including USS America and the future USS Tripoli, will not include a well deck.

Read more